Last posts on Web 2.0

Web 2.0

2006-11-10T14:31:17+01:00

Riding the crest of the wave

2006-08-24T19:05:00+02:00

I think I make a reasonable effort to keep pace with technology trends. Certainly, I like to know what geek-toys are out there, whether I own them. Mostly, I try to keep the big picture in mind of what's happening and what might be coming along.

On the other hand, while I've been aware of social-networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, I've not paid much attention. Neither have I really gotten into open-source applications like OpenOffice and Wiki. My job doesn't "require" it so I've been satisfied to know it's there and that it's a phenomenon. I've also taken a look at vlogs like hotair. Don't want to miss something important, mind you.

But yesterday I surfed by fastcompany.com and watched this video on Web 2.0. I was somewhat blown away by the number of new technologies (Ajax, for example. Okay, it's not really a new technology.) and the ways they are being used. Or maybe it's the proliferation of new websites. I don't know. There's a lot going on that I don't need, haven't really pursued, and can live without. But I'm thinking there is a trend building that will affect my life - and my kids' lives - and my grand-kids lives (way, way down the road) in ways I haven't really thought about.

These technologies are morally neutral as far as I can tell. It is what people do with them that makes them good or bad. For example, our IS Manager brought the subject of a work-Wiki up in a meeting the other day. He's mentioned it before, but I am starting to see how we can use it at work. There are some exciting possibilities there.

In other news, I just finished reading Glenn Reynolds' "An Army of Davids". Glenn is a libertarian and it comes through in his writing, in the book, on instapundit.com, on glennreynolds.com, etc. I thought he strayed from his thesis a few times, and for some of his predictions (like the Singularity), well, let's just say I'm in a wait-and-see mode.

That's all for now.

Lightspeed and Gemini initiate Web 2.0 Lab to invest in Israeli internet startups

2006-02-28T07:15:00+01:00

Lightspeed Venture Partners and Gemini Israel Funds initiate Web 2.0 Lab that intend to support 7-10 emerging Internet startups with an initial investment of up to $1 million each. The new Lightspeed -- Gemini Internet Lab will focus on investments in technologies related to the Internet and Web 2.0, which develops by seed stage companies with operations in Israel.

Gemini Partner Danny Cohen and General Partner Tali Aben together with Lightspeed General Partners Ravi Mhatre and Jake Seid will lead the initiative. The two venture funds plan to quickly seed good ideas and than expose them to the Internet community in Silicon Valley.

Web 2.0 start up eSnips raised $0.75 million seed money from Gemini Israel

2006-02-17T13:30:00+01:00

Israeli Web 2.0 start up, eSnips, completed a $0.75 million seed investment round from Gemini Israel Funds. eSnips, located in Netanya, has recently released an initial beta version of eSnips.com, a free internet service designed to provide 1GB of free storage dedicated for storing and sharing digital files, photos and video clips.

Yael Elish, former VP of Strategic Development at Commtouch, is the founder and chief executive officer of eSnips. The company was initially funded by Nahum Sharfman, formerly the founder of shopping.com, later acquired by eBay. Sharfman, eSnips chairman, was also the founder and CEO of Commtouch. He holds a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University in High Energy Nuclear Physics.

eSnips was made available as a quiet pre-beta on September 2005. A full social version is due to go live in March 2006. eSnips currently has 60,000 registered users. The community based service provides a centralized storage space and user friendly tools to gather almost any type of information from the web or desktop and annotate, tag and share it online in various ways.

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